The Mandalorian Season 2 proves Disney+ can support a slew of new Star Wars shows

Polygon

Season 2's penultimate episode is a reminder of why Disney's plan announced Thursday to roll out 10 new Star Wars series in the coming years is a good idea. "The show’s first season was often exciting, and occasionally reminded you that Din Djarin occupies the same world as the heroes from the Skywalker saga," says Austen Goslin. "More often than not, the show was a series of disconnected incidents and planet-of-the-week style encounters without much of an overarching story. In the few episodes where the story was the focus, it rarely left room for anything else. The show’s second season doesn’t stray too far from the general format, but it does refine it to the point of excellence. The Mandalorian season 2, with only one episode left unseen, has been outstanding. As a TV show it’s got some of the most impressive action around, and a great cast of side and one-off characters played by a deep-bench of actors that only Star Wars could attract....Rather than the uneven, story-or-no-story pacing of the first season, Season 2 manages to flirt with serialized storytelling that prestige TV has become known for while keeping its case-of-the-week style intact." Goslin adds: "Aside from just being watchable TV, The Mandalorian Season 2’s real strength is that it’s great Star Wars. In two consecutive episodes (episodes 5 and 6) The Mandalorian brought Din face to face with some of Star Wars’ most legendary characters. In the case of Ahsoka Tano, the show introduced her to live-action viewers and managed to portray the beloved animated character in a way that was satisfying whether you knew her name before the episode or not...Filling in the margins and focusing on side characters is exactly what a Star Wars when free of theatrical obligations should do. Mando crossing paths with characters like Boba Fett, Ahsoka Tano, and even Bo-Katan firmly roots him in the Star Wars universe and connects him to the stories we already know, giving the series room to explore new ground. There’s no Luke, Leia, or Han anywhere near The Mandalorian (so far), giving the drama a sense of discovery and novelty that the sequel trilogy lacked. Instead of C-3PO popping up out of nowhere, the show makes room for a cute frog couple and their delicious eggs. Disney’s newly announced slate of shows could do that, too."

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• Pedro Pascal has known Baby Yoda's real name since the start of Season 2: "My favorite thing about it is how a part of the creative process (I am)," he says. "I'm invited to at least observe and experience and contribute whatever will occur to me, so Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, they get me the scripts before we get into shooting. So, I know it all, baby!"